Jane & Charlie
A few years ago, Jane Finlay and Charlie Lindner crouched over a row of kale at a local farm. It was 40 degrees and raining, but they were determined to glean every last leaf.
Jane and Charlie, who have been volunteering with Willing Hands since they retired in 2018, laugh as they recall this story. “You’ve got to like getting dirty,” Charlie says about gleaning. “And wet,” Jane adds.
This spirit of adventure and dedication to making every last bit of produce available to the community have kept Jane and Charlie coming back year after year. They have gleaned at farms all over the Upper Valley, meeting farmers and learning about local food production. The 1.5-hour gleaning sessions have given them a greater appreciation for the long hours of hard labor performed by farm staff.
The couple has always had a home garden, and in 2020 they planted a dedicated plot for Willing Hands. Last summer, inspired by a British gardening show, Jane threw some extra fennel and Swiss chard seeds into her flower gardens. The added color and texture was a simple delight. Despite their gardening experience, Jane and Charlie say they always learn something new when volunteering with Willing Hands.
Jane’s favorite crop to glean is carrots. “It’s really fun to be with other people talking while you’re yanking carrots out of the ground,” she says.
Charlie agrees. “Part of the culture of Willing Hands is to do things in a really pleasant way,” he says. That includes ensuring that volunteer sessions start and end on time, except for when volunteers like Charlie and Jane simply refuse to stop.
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering with Willing Hands, check out our volunteer page or send a note to volunteer@willinghands.org.